Events

America’s fiscal choices: Strengthening the economy and building for the future

Date: October 5, 2010

Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, The Century Foundation, Demos and the Economic Policy Institute held a conference with some of the nation’s leading thinkers to discuss the critical economic choices and challenges confronting the nation. Panelists represented a range of perspectives on how to facilitate economic growth, spur public investment and reduce the national debt.

Videos | Schedule | Materials

Setting the Economic Framework

Tamara Draut from Demos, Katherine McFate from the Ford Doundation, and Lawrence Mishel from the Economic Policy Institute discuss the economic framework for a discussion of American fiscal policy. The Powerpoint used in the panel is available here.

 

The Fiscal Squeeze on State and Local Governments

Robert Greenstein (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities) and Ezra Klein (Washington Post) discuss the dificulties of maintaining balanced budgets at the local and state level and the consequent effects on policy.

 

Budget Policy, Short-Term Recovery and Long-Term Growth

Goldman Sachs’ Jan Hatzius, New York Times’ Columnist and Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman, and Harvard Economist Martin Feldstein discuss budget policy, short-term recovery and prospects for long-term growth, moderated by the New York Times’ Jackie Calmes.

 

Replenishing Revenues and Modernizing the Tax Code

Leonard Burman (Maxwell School, Syracuse University), ; John Irons (Economic Policy Institute), Henry Aaron (Brookings Institution, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities), and Ezra Klein (Washington Post) discuss the effects of tax policy on the American public and the federal balance sheet.

 

Strengthening Social Security and Retirement Security

Nancy Altman (Social Security Works) Teresa Ghilarducci (The New School), Robert Reischauer (Urban Institute), and Robert Kuttner (American Prospect) discuss social security policy and its relationship with American federal fiscal policy.

 

Reassessing our National Security Goals and Budget

Carl Conetta (Project on Defense Alternatives), David Walker (Peter G. Peterson Foundation), Cindy Williams (MIT), and Stan Collender (Qorvis) discuss the role defense spending plays in America’s fiscal security.

 

Next Steps for Healthcare Reform

Karen Davis (Commonwealth Fund), Maggie Mahar (Century Foundation Fellow), Bill Hoagland (CIGNA), and Robert Kuttner (American Prospect) discuss the importance of health care reform and its impact on the federal budget.

 

Public Investment as a Foundation for Growth

John Podesta (Center for American Progress), Robert Puentes (Brookings Institution) Eileen Appelbaum (Center for Economic and Policy Research), and Stan Collender (Qorvis) discuss long-term prospects for the federal budget and its effect on the American public.

 

TIME TOPIC SPEAKERS
8:30 Registration
9:00 Welcome and Setting the Framework: Economic Growth, Investment and Deficit Reduction Tamara Draut, Demos; Lawrence Mishel, Economic Policy Institute
9:30 Economists Panel: Budget Policy, Short-Term Recovery and Long-Term Growth Jan Hatzius, Goldman Sachs; Paul Krugman, New York Times; Martin Feldstein, Harvard. Moderated by Jackie Calmes, New York Times
10:30 The Short-Term Challenge: The Fiscal Squeeze on State and Local Governments Robert Greenstein, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.Moderated by Ezra Klein, Washington Post
11:00 Break
11:15 The Medium-Term Challenge: Replenishing Revenues and Modernizing the Tax Code Leonard Burman, Maxwell School, Syracuse University; John Irons, Economic Policy Institute; Henry Aaron, Brookings Institution, CBPP. Moderated by Ezra Klein, Washington Post
12:15 Lunch
1:00 Lunch Time Feature
The Medium Term Challenge: Strengthening Social Security and Retirement Security
Nancy Altman, Social Security Works; Teresa Ghilarducci, The New School; Robert Reischauer, Urban Institute. Moderated by Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect
1:45 The Medium-Term Challenge: Reassessing our National Security Goals and Budget Carl Conetta, Project on Defense Alternatives; David Walker, Peter G. Peterson Foundation; Cindy Williams, MIT. Moderated by Stan Collender, Qorvis
2:30 The Long-Term Challenge: Next Steps for Healthcare Reform Karen Davis, Commonwealth Fund; Maggie Mahar, TCF Fellow; Bill Hoagland, CIGNA
3:15 Break
3:30 The Long-Term Challenge: Public Investment as a Foundation for Growth John Podesta, Center for American Progress; Robert Puentes, Brookings Institution; Eileen Appelbaum, Center for Economic and Policy Research. Moderated by Stan Collender, Qorvis

Background Materials

The Economic Policy Institute

Setting the Economic Framework [Powerpoint]

Fiscal Consolidation Should Wait until Economic Recovery is on Track

Putting the Public Debt in Context

Budget Deficits and Interest Rates


The Century Foundation

Deficit Disorder: Sense and Nonsense About the Federal Debt

How to Reduce Deficits and Improve the Tax System Without Hurting Most Families

The Impact of Housing and Investment Market Declines on the Wealth of Baby Boomers

Demos

Reconciling Economic Growth and Fiscal Responsibility

Social Security: Built to Last for Generations to Come

Trends in Revenue and the Fiscal Condition

 

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Federal Spending Target of 21 Percent of GDP Not Appropriate Benchmark for Deficit-Reduction Efforts

Letting High-Income Tax Cuts Expire is Proper Response to Nation’s Short- and Long-Term Challenges

Top Ten Facts About Social Security on the Program’s 75th Anniversary

Testimony of Robert Greenstein, Executive Director, and Jim Horney, Director of Federal Fiscal Policy, before the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform